Baggage allowance for expats moving to dubai??

[sara81]

Hi there im moving to dubai in the next 2 weeks from London, previously assumed that if i booked a flight with Virgin then I would be allowed 2 suitcases plus hand luggage but been informed from a friend ur only allowed 2 if u go to USA??? Is this true?? And true for all airlines to Dubai?? What do people do then when moving over, there is no way i can manage with just 1 suitcase and excess baggage prices are EXTORTIONATE!!!!!! Please help!!

[Maz25]

Welcome to the forum.

UK baggage allowance is calculated by weight. Virgin allows 23kg per passenger and this can be in more than one suitcase, provided that you do not exceed your overall allowance. You are also allowed an extra 6kg as hand luggage. Excess is charged at £21.96/kg. Please see Virgin's website for further details. No extra allowance is given to expats. If you have a lot of bags, I would suggest that you send them as unaccompanied baggage. Some airlines will also sell you excess weight at a cheaper rate if purchased in advance. However, you would need to know the exact extra weight that you will be bringing to the airport. It might be worthwhile contacting Virgin to explore your options.

[doublejay]

Hi, im moving to dubai on tuesday and flying with virgin! its a nightmare that they only allow 23kg! ive got way more and have to rethink my packing. I asked my company to confirm what allowance i was allowed to take. They came back and told me 2 bags at 23kg each, i wasnt convinced and phoned the airline and they confirmed it was 23kg max and the price of excess baggage is crazy!

Looks like ill be doing alot of shopping when i get to dubai!!

[sara81]

i was also sure you were allowed 2 pieces @ 23kg but apparently thats only when ur flying to the west?!!!!!! anywhere east is only 1 suitcase. Complete nightmare, doublejay I dont know how ur going to do it, maybe ask your company if they will pay the excess baggage, they cannot expect us to go over with nothing!! Think I might do what MAZ says and contact virgin to get a cheaper rate for excess........

[doublejay]

ye im sure they will sort something out. Ive got a meeting with them in london tommrow before i go anyways! what you going to be doing out there then? i know u women pack everything when you go! then again we men are just as bed , well me anyways!

[sara81]

Im a personal trainer, been offered 2 jobs so far but both were quite weak packages on offer, waiting on this third company now who offer a much better package, ive had all interviews, they are now checking my references so hopefully if i get that job will be out there in the next week or two. What about you what will you be doing there? Are you from London originally?

[Shinjuku]

Are you a member of their frequent flyer club?
It may be possible to get an increase in your baggage allowance (depending on how well you can sweet-talk them) by explaining to them that you are relocating and not just travelling. Ideally you do this before you purchase the tickets.

It might not a huge increase, maybe just a couple of kilos, but every little helps.

[sara81]

I am a frequent flying member for a few airlines, but this makes no difference unless im a silver or gold member which I am not!! Done a bit more research and virgin and emirates don't help out at all, BA are not too bad, will cgarge £60 per extra suitcase which seems miniscule compared to the £530 per case that Virgin quoted me!!! Still might check with cargo and see how much they charge cos apparently that's even cheaper......

[White Heat]

Try a company called Air & Cargo Services, they will pick up cases from your home by courier to their depot, then fly them to Dubai. You will have to pick them up from the Cargo Village near the airport. Unfortunately I have lost their number. Google the company name and ask for Ian Wilson. Good Luck.

[sara81]

Hey thanks for that, i will look them up, did you use them yourself?? if so how long roughly did they take to deliver your things and how much do they charge? is it per suitcase they charge?